L'Intérieur au Canapé. Interior with a Sofa. by Édouard Vuillard, 1868-1940

Édouard Vuillard, 1868-1940
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L'Intérieur au Canapé. Interior with a Sofa.

Original etching in black ink. c.1920. The only known early proof impression of the completed image, printed at the period the plate was etched in 1920. The first issued edition was
printed in 1943/44, with the artist's initials added to the plate, for the album: Le Tombeau d'Édouard Vuillard. The published edition in 1944 was 150 impressions. Unique in this form.
Ref: Roger Marx 62 ii/iii. Provenance: Collection Roger Marx, certainly bought from the artist.

Superb sparkling impression with crisp contrasts and a very light plate-tone from the plate before steel-facing. On thick soft cream wove paper. Excellent original condition;
not restored (some slight traces of pencil annotation by Roger Marx, see above, in the lower margin). Full margins as printed. Sheet:10 5/8 x 13 3/4 ins. Plate: 3 7/8 x 6 ins. (100x152mm)

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This is the only known impression of this etching printed at the date that Vuillard etched the plate. It was acquired from Vuillard by the critic and collector Roger Marx. (The issued edition of 150 impressions was not made until some 25 years later).

Like Bonnard (see No.2 in this catalogue), Vuillard was passionate about drawing. He also constantly carried around a pocket sketchbook so that he could make studies from life which he could work-up into paintings in the studio at a later date. One of the strengths of Vuillard's art is his sensitivity to tone as well as colour. This sensitivity, which is so clear in his drawings, was also the factor which led him to try etching as a medium in the 1920's.

L'Intérieure au Canapé, above, is Vuillard's most complete and developed work in etching. In it he has used the nature of the bitten line and the surface ink to take the tone patterns of his pencil drawings a stage further. In the variations of light and shadow he has created an atmospheric and beautiful image. The scene was inspired by the interior of the house of Mme Hessel, one of his most important patrons and closest friends